Machine for forming structural material



NOV- 6, 1956 D. w. MEANOR ETAL MACHINE FOR FQRMING STRUCTURAL MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet l Filedct. 2, 1952 5 ur www? mi r WMM m NOV- 6, 1956 D. w. MEANOR ErAL 2,769,481

MACHINE RoR FoRMING STRUCTURAL MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 2, 1952 NOV- 6, 1956 D. w. MEANOR ErAL MACHINE RoR RORMING STRUCTURAL MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed ocr. 2, 1952 INVENTORS D04/E M M50/VQ@ GLENN 6. Hpl/'A/S Nov. 6,*1956 D. w. MEANOR Erm. 2,769,481

MACHINE FOR FORMING STRUCTURAL MATERIAL Filed Oct. 2; 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 sa 1N 3; l l v E@ E. l' 4/ 42 i l v 32 n iif 1 e E ..3 i

o f (D (D ow m 4770 N5 #s NOV- 6, 1956 D. w. MEANQR ETAL 2,769,481

MACHINE FOR FORMING STRCTURAL MATERIAL Filed OCT.. 2, 1952 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 v,INVENTORS D0 VLE 0. M50/V0@ Nov. 6, 1956 D. w. MEANOR ETAL MACHINE FoR FORMING STRUCTURAL MATERIAL 6, Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed OCT.. 2, 1952 TMW. M

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United States Patent() MACHINE FOR FORMlNG STRUCTURAL MATERIAL Doyle W. Meanor and Glenn G.

Calif., assignors to Narmco, luc., corporation of California Application October 2, 1952, Serial No. 312,830

1s claims. (el. 1er-1.8)

Havens, San Diego, San Riego, Calif., a

This invention relates to a machine'for preparing and forming structural materials.

The present invention is directed to a machine for constructing the core of a light weight structural material consisting of a plurality of ribbons of thin material, alternate ribbons being undulated. An example of such a core material is described in a co-pending application Serial No. 154,138 of Glenn G. Havens, tiled April 5, 1950, issued as Patent No. 2,644,777.

One form of machine for forming such a core material is described in a co-pending application Serial No. 226,269 of Glenn G. Havens, tiled May 14, 1951, issued as United States Patent No. 2,606,133.

This invention is an improved machine for forming such a core material which in many respects resembles the machine described in U. S. Patent No. 2,606,133 to which reference is made for a description of many details as this application is concerned with the improvements to such a machine. v

In order to construct a core material of this type it is necessary to-form the individual ribbons and locate them in the proper relationship. lt is desirable that the forming of the ribbons and securing them to one another be continuous so that a continual llov/ of finished core be produced by the machine.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this present invention to provide a machine for forming a core for a structural material comprising a plurality of undulating ribbons.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine which substantially automatically forms such a core.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a machine which may be continuously operated to produce such a core.

It is a more particular object of this invention to provide such a machine whereby straight ribbon elements may be fed to the machine where they will be automatically shaped, aligned and treated to effect a continuous formation of the desired core.

ln general the invention contemplates a plurality of forming bars upon which the ribbons utilized are continuously threaded, moving said forming bars through an oven wherein the shaped ribbons are treated, forming the desired core material which is discharged at the rear of the oven, withdrawing the forming bars from the core material at the rear of the oven and delivering them again to the front of the oven.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be readily apparent from the following description:

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective View of a machine embodying this invention taken from the right rear corner thereof.

Figure 2 is a perspective view taken from the left front corner.

Figure 3 is a partial perspective of the front end of the machine looking upwardly into the forming bar return mechanism.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the material forming guides and operating means.

Figure 9 is a section taken along line 9-9 of Figure2.

Figure 10 is a section taken along line 10-10 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is a diagrammatic section taken along line 11-11 of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic side elevation at the rear of the machine illustrating the forming bar lowering means.

Figure 13 is a section taken along line 13-13 of Figure 3.

Figure 14 is a side elevation illustrating the forming bar retaining pawl.

Figure 15 is a section taken along line 15--15 of Figure 8.

Figure 16 is a side elevation illustrating the forming bar supporting pawl.

Figure 17 is a perspective view of the structural material core formed by the machine.

Figure 18 is a diagrammatic view of the formation of the core material.

FigureV 19 is a diagrammatic view of the formation of the core material.

Referring now to Figure 1 the machine isl provided with a frame 11 which is generally rectangular in shape and has a side panel 13 suitably secured thereto on each side of the frame, adjacent the rear end thereof which forms the walls of an oven 15 wherein the core material is heated so that a thermal setting adhesive can be suitably heated therein to bind the ribbons of the core material together. An oven bed 17 is supported by the side panels and siutable heating elements are mounted in said oven.

An oven top 19 is pivotally mounted by pins 21 to blocks 20. The oven top has attached to its front end a cable 25 which permits pivoting of the oven top through block and tackle or similar means, to permit inspection of the oven bed 17 and the forming bars 23. Said block and tackle is mounted upon the vertically projecting frame 22, which is suitably secured to the frame 11 at the rear of the machine.

To permit the machine to form core material of various thicknesses the oven top 19 may be adjusted vertically, as best seen in Figures 6 and 7. In this embodiment pins 21 are mounted on blocks 20 which are vertically adjustable and providedy with internal groves 24. Into each grooveV 24 lits a block 26 which in turn is bolted to the frame 11. Bolts 27 project through said block 20 and'into a plate 28. When the bolts are tightened the block20 is held against block 26 preventing movement of said block 20.

The oven bed 17 supports the forming bars Y23 during the heating process as described in the above referred to application Serial No. 226,269, with few exceptions, which will hereinafter be described in detail. The desired undulations in the core material are formed by a transversely movable ribbon guide as hereinafter will be described while the forming bars are xedinsofar as transverse movement is concerned, said bars being deliv` ered to the oven bed automatically.

Referring now to Figure 9, the circulation of the forming bars 23 through the machine contemplates the following steps. First the bars are moved 'om the rear of the 1 plates.;

machine to the front beneath the oven bed 17. Then the forming bars are raised to a level with the oven bed where Y. the ribbons are positioned on the bars. The bars 23Y are then urged slowly through the oven. Gne or more of the ribbons is provided with a coating of 'a thermal setting adhesive which sets during heating in the oven, binding the ribbons together forming the core material, i

When aformingbar 23 l 1 a.s progressed through the oven it is withdrawn'from the'core material and lowered beneath the level o f the oven b ed 17.` This progress of a forming b ar 23 is continuous and automatic withthe driving powerfor the machinefprovided by a suitable motor such as V29, which, throughravsuitable gearreductionbox drivesltheV drive chain 30. First the movement of the forming bars 23 beneaththe (which is best seen in Figures 3 and 4)., The drive chain 2,769,48i E i Y 4Y thereon. This drag or inertia permitsV the positioner bar 54 to move upwardly on the forward stroke'of the positioner 56 prior to forward movement of bar54, links 53 and56 and parallel plates 55. In thismanuer thebar 54 i 59, as best seen'in Figure 3, mountedthereon which spring forces the bars and positionerV- together whenthe nutl is- Vl5"Y Voven bed 17 fromthe'rear to the front of the machine and the mechanism for accomplishing this will be described 'e passes about a suitable sprocket 31 and rotates the main 1'" shaft 32; This shaft is supported in suitable bearingsV formed i'n the side panel extensions 33-and 34, which are secured to side panels 13Y by plates 42.

Attached to each end of shaft 32 is au eccentric 35. The eccentricl and associated mechanism are the same on Yeach side of the machine, hence only that on the rightY front v corner of the machine will be described.

VThe eccentric 35 iits into an aperture 36a formed in the slide 37 so that rotary motion of said shaft'causes the Vslide 37.to move rocker 38, which is providedwith an internal way adapted to receive the slide (best seen in Figures l() and l1). The rocker 3 8 oscillates about shaft 39, forV arpurpose hereinafter to be described, which permits movement ofthe slide 37 inthe rocker without binding. In addition, rocker 38 is provided with. an aperture 36 adapted to permit sulch oscillation of rockerSS without "binding.y:. 1 f. i

The shaft 39`is stationary and is mounted by acallar/iiiV upon the spacer '41 which in turn is secured to a plate 42,

which inturnis secured to the side panel extension 33. Thus when shaft'32 rotates the eccentric` 35 causes the rocker 38 to oscillate back and forth onshaft 39 and also moves the slideY 37 in and out of the rocker. y A Vsuitable connecting rod 43, as seen in Figure 4, is pivotally connected tothe lowenextremity of the slide 37 and to the crank pin 44 of collardSv/hich Vin turn is mounted uponpositioner shaft 46 so that the up and down movement of slide 37 is transmittedV as rotary motion to Y the shaft'46. Such rotation is through a part revolution only after which a corresponding reverse rotation is pro- A duced.

l The positioner shaftfi is ymountedY suitable bearing blocks 47 and'48 on either side of frame 11 and transmits e its movement to the'collar'49 which isfrigidly secured to said shaft 46 (see Figure'3). The positioner 56 is bolted to Vcollar'49 and is reciprocated through an arc bymovej Y ment of shaft 46. This arc is adjustable by loosening the bolts securingit Yto collar 49 and rotatingfthe, positioner which is slotted for this purpose. Y f Y A pair of bar s 51 are p ivotallyfastened oneV on each side Vto thefforwardly curved head of the positioner 50.

V`.These b arsare pivotally securedvatVV their other extremities tothe equalizer shaft 52 which extends across the machine .i tothe corresponding bars Yon the other side of themachine ,1 to insure simultaneous movement-ofboth sets"V of b arsf PivotaJl-y' mounted at either end ofthe equalizer'shaft .gear 66lmeshesV withY a driven gear67 ('seeFigu'res 5 and` .11) Whichis mountedfuponshaft which is 'thus driven by said gear 66;'. Gears 661 and 67, in Ythis embodiment, 1 i

Y have the YVsame pitch andnumberoferteeth, driving `shaft 'Y -atjthe sam'e speed and in the 'c`5p-posit'efdirection from. .i 1

. shaft 32. The shaft V681is rotatably-supported in suitable;w Vbearings formed in sidepanel extensions 3 3 andx34` andl fV l V`es i are a-p'air of` links 53V and a rearwardly extendingposbY tioner b ar '54.V Pivotally connected outside of eitherz link l Y 53`are parallel-plates 55. A'secondpairjof link s 56 (see Figure 7) suspend the rear end of plates S5V from the posi? Y 'tionenbar..54, .thereby VformingV a parallelogram. Guide block s 57V (seeFigure 9) are secured Vto side'panels 13 :and support fthe plates SYSpermitting longitudinal move- Y ment;thereof, but preventingvertical movement of said Said blocks T57 bear against said plates creating adrag vmoves vertically'beneath the forming bars 23 prior to forward movement. The manner in which the positioner 50 is secured to the bars 51V aids'in this respect. A bolt 5 8 projects throughall three and`hasa compressionY spring tightened. rihi's'addeclfriction' tends VVto move'links v53fat'id hence positionerbar 5.4vertic`ally prior to horizontal move'-V l 'A Y Y ment thereof.

front of Vthe machine.

The forming bars are supported at each end by restrain- V ing tracks 61 which areV mounted in turn upon the side f panels i3 during this movement Yfrom rear to front. Itis desirable, to prevent coasting of the bars 23 in said tracks during movement and after fingers have been lowered on'the back stroke of the positioner 50, to provide drag' means such as toothed wheel 62 rotatably mounted beiV tween brackets 63, which in turn are mounted onside` panel 13. The toothed wheel or spur 62 is engaged by i Y and turned byV each's'uccessive forming bar 23 as it passes forward. This creates a resistance or drag, eliminating Y coasting of said forming bars, which resistance or drag -may be variedj byjtightening screw 64 closing bracketsf 63 together andincreasing frietional resistance to rotation g 'of spur 62. Y

It is readily Aapparent that when the positioner VV5 0 has"V Vcompleted its forward stroke the positioner bar 54 has similarly reached its forward position. The positioner bari 54 isthen lowered and then moved rearwardlyupon the rearward stroke of positioneri). V Thus the fingers tiareV disengaged from the forming vbars 23 and lowered.beneathl the underside ofi the f orrning'barsandV moved to the rear of the next successive formingb'ar. Y. Upon the'next forward stroke of theipositioner S0 the bar 54 and in'ger'si! raise and engage the nextlforming bar'to the rearV and move it forward. YYA plurality of fingers 60 Vare provided l on the positioner bar 54 to move a'forming vbar23 progressiyely` forward. and in this manner a forming bar isY movedrto the front of the machine. Y -v Y After the forming bar 23 has progressed tothe front of the machine it is necessary toraise it tothe level o f the ovenbed. This is accomplished by delivery of a formv ing bar 23 tothe elevator 65 by' the'positicning bar' 54;` Y The-elevator@ is caused to rise by means mounted upon'` the right forward side ofthe machine.' YAs thelshafti'32 .f Y isV rotated hyfmotor 29 and chainY 3lit causes rotation of a'spur gear 66 ,whichis mounted thereon Aben/veen eccentricSS and platefLtZY see Figures y4 and'10). V This i plate 42, and suitably positioned'by adjustment collars such as 69 (see Figure 2). .f

VVRigidly connected` to shaft V63 are cranks 70 Va nd ;71

between which a;connecting rod 72 i s pivotally connected.

The connecting rod 72 is also piyotally'connectedto a bracket 73 Vwhich is secured toelevato'r 65 -so that rotationV of *shaft 68 causes the elevatorto raise and lower (seeFiguresZ, 8 and 1l). Severaliof such crank and' Y connecting rod arrangements may be utilized to insure even movement of said elevator.

The elevator is guided tduring vertical movement by, and rides at each end betweenJ parallel gibs 74 which are rigidly secured to the inner faces of side panel extensions 33 and 34 (see Figures 2 and 9).

Attached to the side panel extensions 33 and 34 is an oven bed extension 75 which extends rearwardly to the edge of the oven bed 17 and forwardly to the upper position of elevator 65 and across the width of th'e machine. Thus the elevator 65 raises a forming barupwardly to the level of the oven bed extension, passing over the spring loaded catches 76 (see Figure 16), mounted between side panel extension-s 33 and 34 and gibs 74. As the forming bar passes these catches they are forced inwardly out of the way. The catches then spring outwardly, after the forming bar passes, into suitable slots in the elevator 65 and Isupport the forming bar at the level of the oven bed extension 75 when the elevator 65 is lowered. In this manner the forming bars a-re raised from the level of the positioner bar 54 to the level of the oven.

After this has been accomplished the forming bar is moved rearwardly into the oven. The mechanism for accomplishing this is the same on each side, hence only that :on the right side will be described in detail.

As previously described the rocker 38 is rocked back and forth about shaft 39 by rotation of shaft 32. The rocker is grooved at its upper extremity to receive upper slide 77 (see Figures l0 and ll). The upper slide 77 is pivotally connected to the block 78, which block has at its lower extremity a sliding plate 79 which projects through a suitable slot in the side extension 33 and 34 and is mounted to a similar block on the other side of the machine. The slots in extensions 33 and 34 permit forward and rearward movement of the plate 79 but not vertical. Suitable roller bearings 80 are mounted in blocks 81 positioned between the side panel extension 33 and block 78 to permit movement of plate 79 back and forth beneath oven bed extension 75. Mounted upon plate 79 are a plurality of spring biased fingers 82 (see Figures 9 and 13) which move with the plate 79. The upper surface `of the oven bed extension 75 is provided with suitable longitudinal slots to permit the lingers to extend upwardly. When a forming bar 23 is delivered by elevator 65 the spring biased ngers pass into suitable slots 84 in said elevator and are depressed by said forming bar. As the plate 79 moves further forward the ngers pass slightly beyond the bar 23 and snap up. The iingers are notched as at S3 to 'engage a forming bar 23 and pull it rearwardly on rearward movement of plate 79 which in turn is caused by oscillation of rocker 38 about shaft 39. The movement of the plate 79 rearwardly moves the forming bar 23 carried by it into contact with the other forming bars resting on the oven bed extension 75 and the oven bed 17 and further movement of the plate 79 moves the whole body of forming bars rearwardly a distance equal to the thickness of one forming bar.

Thus it is apparent that the forming bars 23 are successively advanced beneath the oven bed 17 and oven bed extension 75 by the positionel bar 54 and delivered by elevator 65 to the level of the oven bed. The barsrare then carried by plate 79 rearwardly onto the oven b'ed extension 75, forcing the forming bars rearwardly through the oven.

The mechanism to remove the forming bars from the core material and lower them beneath the oven bed 17 is best illustrated in Figures 4, 6, 7 and l2. The structure is the same on each side of the machine and hence, only that on one side will be described. As seen in Figure 4,V

a plate 85 is rigidly mounted upon rocker 38 and has a link 86 pivotally mounted thereon. As the rocker oscillates about shaft 39, the link S6 is moved back and forth. This movement of link 86 is transmitted to an elbow 87 (see Figure 6), which is pivotally mounted about pin S secured to frame 11. The movement of elbow 87 is transmitted to a second link 90 pivotally secured to one arm of said elbow. This mechanism converts the horizontal reciprocating movement of link S6 into vertical reciprocating movement of ejector slide 91 which is secured to link 90. This connection is formed by pivotally connecting link 90 to a slide plate 92 which is secured to ejector slide 91. Vertical parallel guides 94 provide a guiding track in which the ejector slide 91 moves. In this manner the oscillating of rocker 38 about shaft 39 is converted to vertical reciprocation of ejector slide 91.

The link S6 has a threaded turnbuckle connection with elbow 87, as seen in Figure 6, to permit adjustment of the ejector slides 91 position in the guides 94. ln addition, one arm of elbow 87 has a threaded adjusting mem-l ber 95 therein, permitting adjustment of the length of this arm and consequently the length of stroke of the ejector slide 91.

The guides 94 are mounted upon a block 96 (see Figure 7) and a corresponding pair of guides 97 are similarly mounted providing a guide at each corner rof the ejector slide 91. The block 96 is pivotally mounted about pin 98 on side panel extension 13. A bolt 99 (see Figures 7 and 9) screws into side panel extension 13 and through a suitable slot in block 96 and has a spring 100 carried thereon, which bears against slide 91 and biases it towards side panel extension 13.

The ejector slide 91 is provided with a slot 101 which at the upper position of the slide is at the level of the oven bed 17. As a forming bar 23 is delivered to the oven bed extension 75, as previously described, it moves all the forming bars rearwardly through the oven the thickness of one forming bar. Thus one forming bar 23, is forced oi oven bed 17 into the slot 101 which is of the proper shape to receive it. The spring biasing of the slide 91 previously described, permits a reasonable tolerance in the delivery of the forming bar 23 to slot 101 to allow for unequal expansion inthe oven and other inequalities. As the ejector slide 91 is lowered it withdraws the forming bar from the core material and lowersit to the level of the guides for those forming bars being kad-` vanced by the positioner bar 54.

The guides 97 are slotted to provide clearance for the tracks 61 upon which the forming bars are supported at this level and also slotted to provide clearance for similar tracks upon which the forming bars 23 are supported while in the oven.

As the forming bar is lowered by ejector slide 91 it rests upon the tracks 61 at theV lowest position of slide 91. At this time the positioner bar 54 has completed its'back stroke and rises. The rear finger 60 of the positioner bar moves upwardly behind the forming bar in slot 101 and removes it from the slot and slide 91, carrying it forward toward elevator 65. Y

In this manner the forming bars are continuously circulating through the machine. All of the mechanisms are driven from a single source, such as motor 29 and hence are driven in timed relation with respect to each other. A hand wheel 192 may be mounted upon shaft 32 to permit manual driving of the machine for adjust-V V ments and the like.

Having described the functioning of the machine, the preferred embodiment for feeding the ribbon to the machine is as follows. The following mechanism is only on the right side of the machine.

A gear 103, best seen in Figures 5 and 8, is rotatably mounted upon a shaft 104 which is rigidly mounted through plate 42. 'I'he gear 103 meshes with crankshaft gear 67 which rotates Vin theropposite direction and at twice the rate of rotation of gear 103. Y

Rigidly secured to gear 103 and also rotatably mounted upon shaft 104 is a cam 105. The cam has formed thereon on 4either side a cam track 106 which alternately en- While .whatih'ereinbefore has been gages one or the other cam followers `107 which are rig# Vidly and adjustably secured to connecting plate 108. As

the cam is rotated the outside cam follower is moved to the right in Figure 8 and thenV as the cam further rotates the innervcam follower is moved to the left in Figure 8, thereby imparting la reciprocating movement in ahoriis rigidly secured to theshitting feeder i12 whichris there-V -i i byV reciprocated by rotation ocairi'ltl.V hetransvers'e horizontal position ofshiftingfeeder i12 is varied by loosening the nuts and ,bolts il@ and'adjusting Vthe position of bar i109 with respect Vto plate 16S. in addition, theV Y length 'of reciprocation of saidzfeeder M2 can be varied Vby adjusting ythe position of cam followers iii inwardly Y Vor 'outwardlyiwith respect to cam track loro.

'e Suitable Vribbon guides H3 and H4, are mounted upon the machine in advance of the shifting feeder it?.V The ribbons Yare trained through Vthe teeth of the stationary guides 113 and 114 and to the shifting feeder H2. The

Yteeth on the VYshifting feeder are formed as illustrated in Figures fl8 and vi9 with apair close together then a large j gap then another pair with alternate ribbons trained Ythrough a large then a small gap. In -this manner Ythe Y undulations are formed in the ribbons trained through thek Y zontal plane to Vtheplate igjr'he plate 19S is securedV toa bar N9 by means ofrbolts il@ whichproject through .Y a suitable slot 111 formed in said bar. The bar in turn small gaps with the ribbons trained through the largergaps remaining straight a'srmore fully set Vforth in the co-pending application Serial No. 226,269 of Glenn G, Havens, tiledMay 14, l95l. Y Y Y,

-Aswseen in the drawings the oven bedextension 75 and 'side panel extensions' and 34 and the Velements m'ountedrthercon arejseparated from the oven vbed 17 and verticalrjside panels li to reduce heatgconduction and the oven.

lfhus it can beV seen Vthatfthelrrlotor 29 through Ychain 30 drives the conveying means to movethefforming bars said parallelogram, thereby raisingsaidY forming ibar engaging member into Vengagement with forming bars sup-(A ported by said guiderrails thenadvancing said forming barsalong said guide rails, Velevating means adjacent the inlet Yend of said oven bedfreceiving kforming barsjfrom: said forming bar advancing means VandV raising same to Vthe level of said Aovenv bed, f rming'bar` movingtrme'ans" drivenV byy said drvemeanjs receiving forming bars Vromq Y said elevating meansy and moving same acrossrsai'dovenV v bed, and forming bar lowering means withdrawingsaidfpinsrfrom structural material actuated by said drive Vmeans adjacent the Voutput end'o saidfoven receiving formingbars fromsaid oven V,b ecl and VVlowering same` to saidrformin'g bar advancingmeans. i Y Y Y 2. A machine for forming a structural Ymaterial of a plurality of ribbons' of thin material with alternatefribV bons being undnlated;comprisinggan oven bedghaving an inlet and outletjend, a plurality'of forming bars hav-l ing a plurality of pins thereon for projecting into said structural material adapted. toYV rest upon and be moved along said oven bed, a driven shafLguide rails'beneath'vv said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, a forming bar engaging member, a parallelogram, the upperfside Aotwhich supports said Vforming bar engaging means be neath said guide rails, friction means ycreating afdragy on,V the lower sideof said parallelograrntrnotiontransmitting means transmitting rotary movementrof said driven shaft f into longitudinalmovement ofV theV upper side of 'said`V parallelograrn, thereby raising `said forming barY engaging memberinto Vengagement with forming bars supported byV said guide, rails then advancing said bars along'said'guide`V rails, elevating means adjacent the inlet end of said oven bed receiving formingbars from said Vforming bar Yad-k vancing means and naising'sarne to Vthe level of saidoven. 'Y bed, forming bar moving means driven'by said drivej means receiving forming bars from said elevatingpme'ans- Y and moving same acrossA said oven bed and forming bar 5 loweringjmeans withdrawing saidpins from saidV struc,-`

tural Vmaterial actnated'by said drive means adjacentthe output end o'said oven receivingtorming'bars 'fr ornsaid g 1 Y oven bedand lowering; same to said formingbarA adrvatruingmeansp Y, .Y .Y ,Y 3.V A machine forV forming a structural.materialjoa f 23 beneath'the oven17 and oven bed extension; 75.,up

elevatorVV and over oven bed extension' 75 and oven bed 17 to the rear of the machine and Vthen to lowerthem again. The movementof the forming barsd'ra\vs"the ribbons through the guides and Vinto Vthe, oven. V,The

plurality Vof,ribbons-oi thin material with-alternate ribf bons ,being undulated, comprisingyan oven bedV having an Vinlet and'outlet end, apluralitj/of forming barsrharv'-A ing a plurality'` of pinsY thereon for projecting into'saidV structural materialV adapted to restrupon and befmoved along said oven bed, YYdrive means, guide 'rails beneath said oven V'oedjadaptedto `support'forming bars, Ymeans drivenby said drive means for advancing forming bars onsaid guide rail-s toward the inlet endof said oven bed,Y

movement of the chainV 3tl'is convertedV into .reciprocating V; Y

'i Y movement, of the ,shifting Vieetler'V lZlforming the de-` sired undulations in the core material.

ferred embodimentof this `inventionfit Vis readily apparent that?V alterationsandmodifications canrberesorterd to described Vis, the Y'pre-V without departing'from thescope of'lhis'invention andf` are intended to bev included within the: scope offthe.

'appended claims.

. .r daim; y Y. l '1. Aima'chineY forV forming a structural: material ofa plurality yof ribbons of thin material with' alternate ribbons being undulated, comprising: anv oven bed having-V an inlet and outlet'end, a plurality of forming Vbarrsjhav- Y ing a pluralityfof pins thereonV for projectingrinto 4V,said

Vstructlrlral'material adapted to Yrestfupon and be Vmoved Y along saidoven bed, ai driven shaft, guidefrailsbeneath` `vsaid ovenlbed'adaptedjto suppor'tforming bars, a forming Y VVbai-engaging memben'a parallelogram the upper side of which supportsV smfd. forminglbarfengaging member beneath said l guide rails, motion'jftransmittin'g means transmitting rotary movement of said Vdriven shaft into v longitudinal oscillatoryfmovementlof theupper'sfide ofl anpelevatingshaft Vdriven o3/said driven means, raneler Y vator, crank means attaching said elevator to saidclevator Vshafty so that rotation offsaid elevating-,shaft raises j saidV elevator from'a position vrfliereforrning barsgare Vdelivered to said elevator by said forming bar' advancing 1 means YVtoa position-level with said oven'bed, forming',

Y bar moving means driven by Vsaid driverneansreceiving formingbarsfrom said elevator and Vmoving lsaine across said oven bed, and forming Vbarflowering means with-jV drawingV said pins Y-frornsaidestructural material actuated by said drive means'. adjacentnthe outputend of said *oven Vreceiving Yforming bars `from' saidrovenfbed and'. lowering@V Y,

,same to said formingV barfadvancing means.

j VA machineY for foi'rning'a vstructural material pt a plurality ofrribbons oir-thin material with alternate rib'YY bons being -undr'ilatd cominising:v anoven bedlavi'rigfV an inlet'andoutlet endfa plurality offorming bars hav irig'ra plurality ofY pins thereon vfor projectingV into-said' structural material adapted tovrcst upon-aridj be movedVU y .along said ovenfbedgdrlrve' means, Vguiderails;oerrxeat'hVr Y l Y said oven Ybed adapted'.` topsupportVV forming vbarsymeans driven'by said drive/,means for Vadvancing forming Vbars "on said guide railsgtowardY the inlet endlof said Voven bed,'

an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator,V crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises said elevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven hed, spring biased forming lbar engaging means adjacent the upper position of said elevator, means oscillating said engaging means toward and away from said oven bed inlet driven by said drive means, said spring biased forming bar engaging means passing beneath a forming bar held by said elevatorat the level of the oven bed engaging said forming bar and moving same onto said oven bed, and forming bar lowering means withdrawing said pins from said structural material actuated by said drive means adjacent the output end of said oven receiving forming bars from said oven bed and lowering same to said forming bar advancing means.

5. A machine for forming a structural material of a plurality of ribbons of thin material with alternate ribbons being undulated, comprising: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming bars having a plurality of pins thereon for projecting into said structural material adapted to rest upon and be moved along said oven bed, a driven shaft, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, forming bar engaging means mounted beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting means connecting said driven shaft to said forming bar engaging means driving said engaging means'to engage forming bars on said guide rails and advance same towards the inlet end of said oven bed, an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises vsaid elevator 'from a position where forming bars are delivered to. said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven bed, forming bar moving means driven by said drive means receiving forming-bars from said elevator and moving same across said. oven bed, and forming bar lowering means withdrawingsaid pins from said structural material actuated by said drive means adjacent the output end of said oven receiving forming bars from said oven bed and lowering same to said forming bar advancing means.

v 6. A machine for forminga structural lmaterial of a plurality of ribbons of thin material with alternate ribbons being undulated, comprising: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming bars having -a plurality` ofpins thereon for projecting into said structural-,material adapted to rest upon and be moved along said'oven bed, a driven shaft, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, forming bar engaging means mounted beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting means connecting said driven shaft to said forming bar engaging means driving said engaging means to engage forming bars-on said guide rails and advance same towards the inlet end of said oven bed, an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator-shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises saidelevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a-position level with said oven bed, spring biased formingbar engaging means adjacent the upper position of said elevator, means oscillating said engaging means toward and away from said ovenbed inlet driven by said drive means,Y said spring biased forming bar engaging means passing beneath a forming bar held by said elevator atthe level of the oven-bed engaging said forming bar and movingsametonto said ,oven bed, and forming bar lowering meansrwithdrawing said pins from said structural material actuated by said drive means adjacent the output end of said oven receiving forming bars from said. oven bed and lowering same to said forming bar advancingmeans.

7. A machine for forming a structural material of a plurality of ribbons of thin material with alternate ribbons being undulated, comprising: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming bars having a plurality of pins thereon for projecting into said structural material adapted to rest upon and be moved along said oven bed, a driven shaft, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, a forming bar engaging member, a parallelogram the upper side of which supports said forming bar engaging member beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting `means transmitting rotary movement of said driven shaft into longitudinal oscillatory movement of the upper side of said parallelogram, thereby raising said forming bar engaging member into engagement with forming bars supported by said guide rails then advancing said forming bars along said guide rails, an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises said elevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven bed, forming bar moving means driven by said drive means receiving forming bars from said elevator and moving same across said oven bed, and forming bar lowering means withdrawing said pins from said structural material actuated by said drive means adjacent the output end of said oven receiving forming bars from said oven bed and lowering same to said forming bar advancing means.

8. A machine for forming a structural material of a plurality of ribbons of thin material with alternate ribbons being undulated, comprising: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming barshaving a plurality of pins thereon for projecting into said structural material adapted to rest upon and be moved along said-oven bed, a driven shaft, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, a forming bar engaging member, a parallelogram the upper side of which supports said forming bar engaging member beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting means transmitting rotary movement of said driven shaft into longitudinal oscillatory movement of the upper side of said parallelogram thereby raising said forming barengaging member into engagement with forming bars supported by said guide rails then advancing said forming Y bars along said guide rails, an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, crank means `attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises said elevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven bed, spring biased forming bar engaging means adjacent the upper position of said elevator, meansv oscillating said engaging means toward and away from said oven bed inlet driven by said drive means, said spring biased forming bar engaging means passing beneath a forming bar held by said elevator at the level of the oven bed engaging said forming bar and moving same onto said oven bed, and forming bar lowering means withdrawing said pins from said structural material actuated bysaid drive means adjacent the output endof said oven receiving forming bars from said oven bed and lowering same to said forming bar advancing means.

9. in a machine of the class described the combination of: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming bars 'adapted to restV upon :and be moved along said oven bed, drive means, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars,

means driven by said drive means for advancing forming bars on said guide rails toward the inlet end of said oven bed, elevating means adjacent the inlet end of said oven bed receiving forming bars from said forming bar advancing means and raising same to the level' of said oven bed, forming bar moving means driven by said drivel supports said forming bar engaging member beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting means transmitting rotary movment of said driven shaft into longitudinal oscillatory movement of the upper side of said parallelogram thereby raising said forming bar engaging member into engagement with forming bars supported by said guide rails then advancing said forming bars along said guide rails,

an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, t

crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises said elevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven bed, forming bar moving means driven by said drive means receiving forming bars from said elevator and moving same across said oven bed, a slide movably mounted at the discharge outlet of said oven bed having a slot therein to receive a forming bar discharged from said oven bed, and means translating rotary movement of said slide to vertical reciprocating movement of said slide thereby receiving a forming bar from said oven bed and lowering same to the level of said guide rails.

16. In a machine of the class described the combination of: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming bars adapted to rest upon and be moved along said oven bed, a driven shaft, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, a forming bar engaging member, a parallelogram the upper side of which supports said forming bar engaging member beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting means transmitting rotary movement of said driven shaft into longitudinal oscillatory movement of the upper side of said parallelogram thereby raising said forming bar engaging member into engagement with forming bars supported by said guide rails then advancing said forming bars along said guide rails, an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises said elevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven bed, forming bar moving means driven by said drive means receiving forming bars from said elevator and moving same across said oven bed, a slide movably mounted at the discharge outlet of said overIV bed having a slot therein to receive a forming bar discharged from said oven bed, the mounting for said slide being resiliently attached to said oven bed to permit movement of said slide with respect to said oven bed, and means translating rotary movement of said slide to vertical rcciprocating movement of said slide thereby receiving a forming bar from said oven bed and lowering same to the level of said guide rails.

17. In a machine of the 'class described the 4combination of: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming bars adapted to rest upon and be moved along said oven bed, a driven shaft, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, a forming bar engaging member, a parallelogram the upper side of which supports said forming bar engaging member beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting means transmitting rotary movement of said driven shaft into longitudinal oscillatory movement of the upper side of said parallelogram thereby raising said forming bar engaging member into engagement with forming bars supported by said guide rails then advancing said forming bars along said guide rails, an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises said elevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven bed, spring biased forming bar engaging means adjacent the upper position of said elevator, means oscillating said engaging means toward and away from said oven bed inlet driven by said drive means, said spring biased forming bar engaging means passing beneath a forming bar held by said elevator at the level of the oven bed engaging said forming bar and moving same onto said oven bed, a slide movably mounted at the discharge outlet of said oven bed having a slot therein to receive a forming bar discharged from said oven bed, and means translating rotary movement of said slide to vertical reciprocating movement of said slide thereby receiving a forming bar from said oven bed and lowering same to the level of said guide rails.

18. In a machine of the class described the combination of: an oven bed having an inlet and outlet end, a plurality of forming bars adapted to rest upon and be moved along said oven bed, a driven shaft, guide rails beneath said oven bed adapted to support forming bars, a forming bar engaging member, a parallelogram the upper side of which supports said forming bar engaging member beneath said guide rails, motion transmitting means transmitting rotary movement of said driven shaft into longitudinal oscillatory movement of the upper side of said parallelogram thereby raising said forming bar engaging member into engagement with forming bars supported by said guide rails then advancing said forming bars along said guide rails, an elevating shaft driven by said driven means, an elevator, crank means attaching said elevator to said elevator shaft so that rotation of said elevating shaft raises said elevator from a position where forming bars are delivered to said elevator by said forming bar advancing means to a position level with said oven bed, spring biased forming bar engaging means adjacent the upper position of said elevator, means oscillating said engaging means toward and away from said oven bed inlet driven by said drive means, said spring biased forming bar engaging means passing beneath a forming bar held by said elevator at the level of the oven bed engaging said forming bar and moving same onto said oven bed, a slide movably mounted at the discharge outlet of said oven bed having a slot therein to receive a forming bar discharged from said oven bed, the mounting for said slide being resiliently attached to said oven bed to permit movement of said slide with respect to said oven bed, and means translating rotary movement of said slide to vertical reciprocating movement of said slide thereby receiving a forming bar from said oven bed and lowering same to the level of said guide rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,406,051 Weiss Aug. 20, 1946 2,494,642 Case et al Jan. 17, 1950 2,513,777 Andre July 4, 1950 2,556,011 Swayze et al. June 5, 1951 2,606,133 Havens Allg. 5, 1952 2,609,314 Engel et al. Sept. 2, 1952 

